The White House hosted a Diwali reception on Monday that US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hailed as the biggest since the People's House began commemorating the festival under President George W. Bush.
The East Room hosted the reception for more than 200 prominent Indian Americans. This location has hosted significant occasions in the history of India-US relations, such as the signing of the nuclear agreement and the press conference held by then-US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2008.
The Sa Dance Company and sitarist Rishab Sharma both gave captivating cultural performances throughout the reception. The guests enjoyed some scrumptious Indian cuisine while dressed in traditional Indian garb like sarees, lehengas, and sherwanis.
The dining room in the East State is packed. This event honours the accomplishments of the Indian American community in the country. The White House and the President are doing us all a great favour by hosting us on Diwali. Atul Keshap, president of the US India Business Council, told PTI after the reception, "I feel priveleged to be here as an Indian American."
"Being present to celebrate Diwali is a privilege and an honour." According to H R Shah, chairman and CEO of TV Asia, the largest South Asian television channel in the US, Indian Americans praise the President and the First Lady for this.
It was heartening to see the prominent members of our thriving Indian American community unite at the White House for Diwali to act as a positive force. According to M R Rangaswami, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Indiaspora, it was also pleasant to hear the president on the day of Diwali congratulate Rishi Sunak on being the new prime minister of the UK.
The occasion was conducted to recognise the South Asian community's contributions to economic development and the handling of the Covid crisis, among other things, according to Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
At various levels of the administrations, Biden has appointed a record number of over 130 Indo-Americans, according to him.
Bhutoria praised the Diwali celebration, saying it demonstrated how much this government and President Biden value and appreciate the South Asian community.
Biden had earlier welcomed the visitors and noted that it was the first Diwali reception of this size to be conducted at the White House.
Defending rights and freedoms, constructing a more just and equitable nation, serving and protecting our communities and the country, informing, entertaining, and inspiring are just a few of the ways the incredible South Asian community across America has helped the country recover from this pandemic stronger. They have also helped build an economy that works for everyone, educate children and care for the elderly, respond to the call for climate action, work to fix the immigration system, teach children and care for elders, and teach children and care for children.
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